A manually operated switch is a switch that directly controlled by hand. Type of manually operated switch are :
- Toggle switch
- Slide switch
- Rocker switch
- DIP (Dual in-line Package) switch
- Rotary switch
- Thumbwheel switch
- Selector switch
- Pushbutton switch
- Drum switch
TOGGLE SWITCH
Toggle switches are one of the innumerable components of an electrical system with a definite purpose. In terms of electrical use, it is defined as a device that allows or bars the flow of current. Toggle switches slightly differ from normal switches in their working mechanism. It resembles a gate that has 2 parts to itself. When the gate is closed and the two parts are in contact, current flows through the system. This is the on position. When the gate is open and the two parts are detached from each other, the circuit is broken and no current flows through it. This happens in the off position.
Figure 4 Toggle Switch
SLIDE SWITCH
Slide switch uses a simple slide action to produce the same connections as a toggle switch. The slide switch is often used as a mode switch to select certain mode of operation such as HIGH and LOW.
Figure 5 Slide Switch
ROCKER SWITCH
Rocker switch is often a modified slide switch. A rocker switch is an on/off switch that rocks (rather than trips) when pressed, which means one side of the switch is raised while the other side is depressed much like a rocking horse rocks back and forth. Rocker switches are used in surge protectors, display monitors, computer power supplies, and many other devices and applications.
Figure 6 Rocker Switch
DIP (DUAL IN-LINE PACKAGE) SWITCH
A DIP switch is a manual electric switch that is packaged with others in a group in a standard dual in-line package (DIP). DIP switches are small switch assemblies designed for mounting on printed circuit boards or inserted in a socket. Their main advantages are that they are quicker to change and there are no parts to lose.
Figure 7 DIP Switch
ROTARY SWITCH
The rotary switch is often used for more complex switching operations, such as those found on oscilloscopes and multimeters. A rotary switch consists of a spindle or “rotor” that has a contact arm or “spoke” which projects from its surface like a cam. Rotary switches were used as channel selectors on television receivers until the early 1970s, as range selectors on electrical metering equipment, as band selectors on multi-band radios, etc.
Figure 8 Rotary Switch
THUMBWHEEL SWITCH
Thumbwheel switch are used on numerical and computer-controlled equipment to input information from the operator to the computer. Their specially made decks output binary coded decimal (BCD), decimal, or hexadecimal codes necessary to communicate with digital computers.
Figure 9 Thumbwheel Switch
SELECTOR SWITCH
Selector switches may have two or more selector positions, with either maintained contact position or spring return to give momentary contact operation.
Figure 10 Selector Switch
PUSHBUTTON SWITCH
Pushbutton switches are the most common form of manual control found in industry. They may consist of one or more contact blocks, an operator device, and legend plate.
Figure 11 Pushbutton Switch
DRUM SWITCH
Drum switch consists of a set of moving contacts mounted on and insulated from a rotating shaft.
Figure 12 Drum Switch
IRV 